A Glad Surrender: The Best Preparation for War, and the Battle of the Everyday!

While doing an errand and listening to National Public Radio the other day, I was reminded (once again) of the many, many very complicated issues involved in war, and, in particular, the wars in the Middle East and North Africa—amongst similar, extremely complicated wars in history.

Then my mind shifted to the wars… the battles… the skirmishes… we face every day of our lives and then… moving to another part of the story… I drifted to how our VICTORY in Jesus Christ equips us to be commissioned, surrendered, and victorious in every battle we face.

What do the following two quotes have in common? How are they different?

“To Arms!” Dig Down Deep, Muster Up Your Conviction, Courage, and Constancy
Winston Churchill, facing the reality of the Nazi onslaught and inspired beyond what most of us will ever experience said, “Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to a force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

“Surrender!” Dig Down Deep, Live in Jesus Christ’s Conviction, Courage, and Constancy… in You.
St. Paul, facing the reality of multiple scourges (the detail is offered to underpin Paul’s motivation), imprisonment, and martyrdom, said, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:1-11).

Here’s the Rub for Those Running the Good Race
Both quotes are true, compelling, and well worth our internalizing and fighting for. However, their proper order must be fully understood and lived-out each day:

“In all ways, put St. Paul before Churchill”… Be surrendered before taking up arms!”

Being surrendered in, by, and through the victory of Jesus Christ’s (the very Son of God) historical birth, death, and resurrection—first in realization of sin, then confession, then conversion, and then in discipleship each day following—is the best way to jump into any and every battle… until we die.

In Christ, Surrender Must Always Precede Each Battle.
Whether I survive the battle, or I cease to live in this passing world, I can say (as Job did) with full assurance based on the unbreakable promise of God,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21)!

Surrender to the Victory of Jesus Today!
“I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins;
And won the victory.

Chorus:
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory.

Chorus.
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.”

Chorus.
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

(“Victory in Jesus”, Words and Music by Eugene Monroe Bartlett Sr, 1939-emphasis added)

Each day, surrender to our Lord in allegiance, stewardship, and thanksgiving; mindfully put on the armor; humbly yet boldly take up the sword of truth, and move towards the chaos of the battle in love… victoriously joyful that God will post us exactly where we’re meant to be… amidst the chaos and skirmishes before Jesus returns again to make all things new.

[NOTE: If God has put somene in your life who is battling on the front lines of any war, please pray and be involved in any way, to help them get the priorities straight: Surrender to Jesus, then take up arms, and claim the victory in life and in death each and every day.]

Remember, all the bloodiest battle can ultimately do to the surrendered is to usher us into The Everlasting Arms of God!

JohnDoz